Film cameras
Nikon SB-14 User manual
User manual for Nikon SB-14. 27 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
27 pagesEnglish6.6 MB PDF

Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Nikon
- Model / document
- Nikon SB-14
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 27
- File size
- 6.6 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 6 · Read text
BASICOPERATION www.butkus.us
@ to Attcrch the brccket to thel. Attcch the brcrcket $. Plug in the sensor@. tne cclmerct. 'flash unit. With the "Nikon" name facing toward
Screw the bracket's attachment Insert the bracket mounting pin @ the flash head@, align the protrud-
screw @ into the camera's tripod into the hole in the bracket mounting ing portion of the Sensor Unit SU-2
socket to secure the two units together adapter @ with the two white dots @ with the notched portion inside the
tiqhtly. (For details, refer to page aligned; rotate the camera forward SB-14's sensor socket@; then push
10.) until it click-locks into place. the sensor into the socket until it
click-locks into place.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
BASIC OPERATION - continued
the sync cord @. Check the position of the Connect the power'{,.AttcrchScrew the angled end of the Sync 'flash head. 'supply.
Cord SC-lt into either of the flash Make sure that the flash head is in PIug the cord from the power supply
unit's sync/multiple flash sockets @ the normal shooting position. into the flash unit's external power
and screw the straight end into the terminal@.
camera's sync terminal.
Notc: The SB-14 is powercd by only on externol
IVotc; Sorne camercg do not hove the threoded power supply.
sync terminol.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
www.butkus.us
the exposure Set calcu- i. r'^ -7. Set the ccmerq's shutter RlYOi speed Ior proper syn- lctor drclgr.
chronization. Turn the dial uniil the ASA/ISO film 18 ft.), and 0.6m to 4m (2 to 13 ft.),
Set the shutter speed dial to the prop- speed index @is opposite the number respectively. (For more information
er synchronization speed for elec- for the speed of the film in use. The on selecting the f/stop, refer to "Ex-
tronic flash (e.q., set the F3 to the three thick color-coded lines @ posure Calculator Dial" on page 12.)
"X" setting). For details, refer to the above the f/stop scale @ indicate the
chartonpage ll. three usable f/stops for automaiic
operation and the distance scales @
below the usable f/stop scales give
you the range of flash-to-subject dis-
tance. For example, if you're using
ASA/ISO I00 film, the usable f/stops
are f./4, below the orange line, I/5.6,
below the yellow, and f/8 below the
blue. The range of flash-to-subject
distance for each f/stop is 0.6m to
8m (2 lo 26 ft.), 0.6m to 5.6m (2 toView original page 8Page 10 · Read text
www.butkus.us
the recrdy-light Tcrlce the picture. Turn olf the power12. l"tch 13. 14. Q9. When the shutter is tripped, the flash suPpry.
As soon, as the LED ready-light unit fires and the picture is taken. To conserve battery power between
comes on, the flash unit is ready to Soon, the ready-liqht will liqht up to shooting sessions, slide the power
fire. tell you the flash unit is recycled and switch of the power supply to the
ready to fire again. OFF position.View original page 10Page 11 · Read text
CONTROTS IN DETAIT
Nikon FM/FE Motor Drive MD-4
Motor Drive Nikon F3/EM/F2,
MD-llA,ID-12 Motor Drive MD-244D-3A,ID-E,
Cordless Battery Pack MB-lAvfB-2
Br<rcket SK-S@ Brcrcket Mounting Adcrpter @
The Speedliqht SB-14's bracket can be attached to various To detach the flash unit for off-camera flash operation,
camera and/or motor drive combinations. To change the push the release/locking wheel @ to the left and while
attachment screw from one slot @ to another, slide it to holdinq it, tip the flash forward until the two white dots
the threaded end of the slot and unscrew it; then screw it are aligned; then pull the flash unit away from the bracket.
back into the threaded end of the other slot. Once
screwed in, the attachment screw can be moved freely IVoto: Io detoch the brocket mountinq odqpter from the flosh unit's
to any position along the slot. The diagram indicates the hondle @,u"" a stondord sctewdriver lo /oosen the two sct€r,r/s on the Ioce of the odopter.recommended position of the attachment screw for Nikon
SLR cameras and motor drives.
10View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Shutter Speed Dial
To get proper synchronization, set the camera's shutter
speed dial as shown in the chart below. (For details, refer
to your camera's instruction manual.)
Synchronizqtlon chqrt
Nikon F3 X (l/80), l/60 or slower
Nikon FE M90 (l/90),l/125 or slower
Nikon FM, EL2, I/I25 or slower Nikkormat FT3
AUTO or M90 (l/90)
l/80 (red line located between Nikon F2 series l/60 and I/12$ or slower
tThe Nikon EM does not have o sync terminol. To use the SB-14, you must
ottoch the Sensor^Pemote Cord SC-13.
11View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
CONTROTS IN DETAIT -continued
Exposure C,<rlculator Dial @
The exposure calculator dial on the back of the SB-14 For Automctic Operction
helps you to select the usable range of f/stops for the With the Sensor Unit SU-2 attached to the Speedlight
speed of the film in use and the flash-to-subject distance. SB-14, you can shoot on Automatic. Three usable f/stops
To set the ASA/ISO film speed, turn the dial until the are indicated by the thick color-coded lines after you set
number corresponding to the film speed is opposite the the ASA/ISO film speed on the dial.
ASAflSO fllm speed index. Set the film speed to the "W" For example, if you are using ASA/ISO 100 film, you can
index mark @ when the Wide-Flash Adapter SW-S O is select either f/4, I/5.6 or f./8. In selecting the f/stop, the
attached to the flash unit. flash-to-sublect distance, recycling time, and depth of
field are important factors. IVofe: Dols between the numbers on the film speed sco/e @represenf
intermediote settings. (See illustrotion. ) o Flcrsh-to-subiect distcrnce
The thick color-coded lines indicate the range of flash-to- 640 320 80 40 sublect distances for automatic shooting as well as the
I I tt usable f/stops. Each distance range is constant regardless
25 of the film speed set on the dial. The orange line indicates 800 400 200 '60 100 64 50 32 a range from 0.6m to 8m (2 to 26 ft.), the yellow from
I I I 0.6m to 5.6m (2 to 18 ft.), and the blue from 0.6m to 4m 500 250 125 (2 to 13 ft.). So, for example, with ASA/ISO I00 {ilm and
12View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
www.butkus.us
4,m 5.Frn
!o
a subject more than 5.6m (18 ft.) away, the only usable subject up to 4m (13 ft.) away, you can select any one of
f/stop isf/4. the three f/stops indicated, f/4, f/5.6 or f./8, taking into
On the other hand, the thin color-coded lines @with "W" consideration the recycling time or depth of field you
indicate the distance ranges when the wide-flash adapter desire. With the wide-flash adapter attached and a sub-
is used: from 0.6m to 5.6m (2 to l8 ft.), 0.6m to 4m (2 to ject up to 2.8m (9 ft.) away, the usable f/stops are also
13 ft.), and 0.6m to 2.8m (2lo g ft.), respectively. In this f./4, f/5.6 and f/8.
case, with ASA/ISO 100 film, if the subject is more than
4m (13 ft.) away, only f./4 can be used.
Notcs With a subject more thon 8m (20 It.) owoy or more thon 5.6m
(18 ft.) owoy when usinq the wide-flosh odopter shoot- on monuql. -
o RecTcling time cnd depth oI lield
If the subject distance remains the same, the wider the
aperture you select, the faster the recycling time of the
flash unit and the greater the maximum shooting distance,
but the less the depth of field. With ASA/ISO 100 and a
13View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
CONTROTS IN DETAIT -continued
For Manual Operction
Set the ASA/ISO dial and simply read off the f/number Cqution.' For monuol operation, be sure /o se/ lie shooting mode se|ector
which appears directly above the flash-to-subject dis- of the Sensor Unit SU-2 ot the'M" position.
tance; then set this aperture on your lens.
For example, with ASA/ISO I00 and a subject 2m (approx.
7 It.) away, the usable f/stop is f/16 without wide-flash
adapter, or I/II with the wide-flash adapter attached.
Without referring to the exposure calculator dial, you
can also determine the f/stop by using the following egua-
tion:
guide number
f/stop = f lash-to-subject distance
With ASAISO t00 film and meters, the SB-14's guide
number is 32. If the subject is 8m away, divide 32 by 8 to
qetf/4.
14View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
www.butkus.us
I
I
Sensor Unit SU-z @
The Sensor Unit SU-2 controls the operation of the SB-14. Note: Althouqh the SB-14 operotes with moximum light output ot the S
It has five settings to choose from. position, be sure to set the comero's shutter speed dial of slower thon the ordinory synchronizotion speed. For example, il the comero's synchro-
At the Three Auto Positions nization speedr's 1/125 sec., set the shutter speedot 1/60 sec. or slower.
To shoot on Auto, lift up and turn the knurled ring on the
outside of the sensor to one of the three positions (orange, At the M (Mqnucl) Position
yellow, or blue) which are color-coded for use with the Set the SU-2 to the M setting and the SB-14 operates
exposure calculator dial. At these settings, the SB-l'4 is manually at its maximum light output regardless of the
able to vary its light output automatically to match the flash-to-subject distance. In this case, you have to calcu-
f lash-to-subj ect distance. late the exposure manually by referring to the exposure
calculator dial. At the S (Slqve) Position
At this setting, the SB-14 emits a modulated burst of liqht Detqching the Sensor Unit
which can trigger a second electronic flash. The remote To detach the SU-2, push in the two protrusions at the
flash unit is connected to the receiver portion of the base of the sensor and pull it out.
optional Modulite Remote Control Unit ML-l (which is set
to channel 2), while the Speedlight SB-I4 acts as the
transmitter.
15View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
r
IN DETAIT -continued-CONTROIS
Recrdy-light @
Built into the back of the SB-14's flash head is a ready- IVotc: 1) With o subject neor the for limit of the usable shooting ranqe, it is liqht which comes on as soon as the flash unit is recycled recommended to woit o few seconds after the reodyJiqht comes on
and ready to fire. As an additional feature, the ready- before taking the shot.
liqht blinks if the flash fires at its maximum output indi- 2) When the batteries ore nearly exhousted, the liqht output of the
cating that the light might be insufficient for correct . Iloshunitdecreoses.
exposure on Automatic. The warning blinks last for ap-
proximately two seconds. In this case, reset the lens aper-
ture to the proper f/stop.
16View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Open-Flcrsh Button@
The red open-flash button is used to fire the flash unit or reset the Sensor Unit SU-2 to a color-coded position
manually without having to trip the camera's shutter. In calling for a wider aperture.
this manner, you can create multiple-exposure "strobo-
scopic" effects or paint the scene with light by firing
the flash repeatedly with the camera set to "8." However,
with the SB-14 connected via a sync cord to the camera
set at "8," the flash will not go off even when the open-
flash button is pushed. So, make sure to remove the con-
necting cord from the camera before using the open-
flash button.
The open-flash button is also used in conjunction with the
ready-light to determine if you can get the correct ex-
posure when shooting on automatic. This is especially
useful when doing bounce flash. After setting up the shot,
push the open-flash button. If the ready-light does not
blink, you can take the picture. If it does blink, try
moving the flash closer to the subject or bounce surface,
17View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
CONTROTS IN DETAIT -continued Flcsh Hecrd@ The SB-14's movable flash head can be tilted back up Notc: When the flash heod is tilted up to 120", rototion is somewhot to l20o and rotated 120' to the left and l20o to the right; restricted; ond depending on the omount of rototion, tilt might be re- click-stops are provided at 30o, 60o, 90" and l20o for stricted. both tilting and rotating movements. For normal shooting, point the flash head straight ahead. In this position, the light travels directly out to the subject providing the maximum amount of light possible. However, to soften the shadows and lower the contrast for indoor snapshots, you can tilt the flash head up and simultaneously rotate it to the left or right to bounce the light off the ceiling or walls. Consult the illustration for details. Note that unless the surface you are using to bounce the liqht off of is white or silver, your color photographs will come out with an unnatural color cast similar to that of the reflect- ing surface. The color temperature of the SB-14's light output is balanced for use with daylight type color film. 18View original page 19
Page 20 · Read text
www.butkus.us
Sync/Multiple Flash Sockets @
Two standard Nikon screw-type terminals are provided
on the Speedliqht SB-14. Either terminal can be used to
connect the SB-14 to the camera, while the other is pro-
vided for connecting the SB-14 with another flash unit in
series for multiple flash operation. When using the Nikon
Speedliqht SB-I I , 12, or 14 as a secondary unit, connect
the flash units together using the Sync Cord SC-ll or SC-
15. With the SB-10 or SB-7, use the Sync Cord SC-s,
SC-6 or SC-7.
Notc: In multiple Ilosh operotion, moke surre fo use both flosh units on
monuol.
19View original page 20Page 21 · Read text
IN DETAIT -continued-CONTROIS
$/ide-Flash Adcpter SW-s O
The angle of illumination of the SB-14 by itself covers the Notc: With the SW-S ottoched, the liqht output ol the flash unit is
picture angle of a 28mm wideangle lens. When the wide- rcduced, rcsulting in o decr.eose in guide numbr frcm 32 to 2 (ASA/ISO 100 ond melers) or 52 to 36 (ASA/ISO 25 and deet). Automotic shooting
flash adapter is attached onto the front of the flash head, ranges with ASA/ISO 100 decrease to 0.6m to 5.6m (2 to 18 ft.) at il4,
it increases the illumination from 67o to 77o horizontally 0.6m to 4m (2 to 13 ft.) at I/5.6 ond 0.6m to 2.8m (2 to 9 ft.) ot f/8.
and 48o to 56o vertically, providing just the right amount
of coverage when a24mm lens is used.
20View original page 21Page 22 · Read text
ll www.butkus.us TIps oN AuToMATIc FT.AsH sHoorING
Subiect's Rellectivity FillJn Flcrsh Photography
When you shoot a dark subiect (one with low reflectivity), In fill-in flash photography with a very briqht back-' reduce the aperh.rre selected by one-half to one {ull f/stop. ground, overexposure might occur. Make surc that the
When the subject is light in tone (has high reflectivity), scene'a brightness does not errceed the exposure value
reset the aperture so that it is one-half to one full f/stop determined by the combination o{ shutte! speed you set
( wider. Otherwise, your pictures might come out over- and aperture selected.
or underexposed.
II you photograph a subject of very high reflectivity, such
as when shooling directly into a mirror or metallic sur-
face, underexposure is certain to occur. In thig case,
I take pictures on manual.
Seusor Unit SU-z
n The sensor reads the Iight refleqted lrom the subiect. III something, such as the sync cord or your finger, comes
between the sensor and the light leflected from the sub-
ject, the SB-14 will be unable to delive! the correct ex-
ll Po",t"..
|l'tlI
21View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
A@ESSORIES DC Unit SD-7 Accepting six C-type batteries, the SD-? is designed to be used as a power source for both the Nikon Speedliqhts SB-I4 and SB-ll. It has a neckstrap for convenient use. DC UNit SD-6 Utilizing one 3l5V high-voltage battery (0210 type) and six AA-type batteries, the Nikon DC Unit SD-6 is used as an external power supply for the Nikon Speedliqht SB-14 or SB-ll. Because it utilizes a high-voltage battery, it enables the electronic flash to fire with shorter recycling time. When powered by the SD-6, it's possible to synchronize the SB-14 with a motor-driven camera. 22View original page 23
Page 24 · Read text
www.butkus.us
TTI Sensor Cord SC-12
One meter long, this cord allows the SB-14 to be used
with the Nikon F3 for automatic through-the-lens control
of the flash exposure. When attached, the camera's shutter
speed is automatically switched to the proper flash syn-
chronization speed of l/80 sec. with the shutter speed
dial at A or I/I25 sec. and above. The ready-liqht inside
viewfinder also operates in the normal
*:J:l.ra's
Sensor Remote Cord SC-13
Also one meter long, the SC-13 allows mounting oJ the
SB-I4's Sensor Unit SU-2 directly on the Nikon FE, FM,
or EM's hot shoe for automatic, off-camera operation with
the flash unit pointed in any direction. With the Nikon
F3, the Flash Unit Coupler AS-4 is required and control
of the flash exposure is automatic, but not through-the-
lens.
Sync Cord SC-15
A coiled cord over one meter in length, the SC-15 screws
into the camera's sync terminal and allows the SB-14 to
be detached from its bracket and used off-camera.
23View original page 24Page 25 · Read text
"REDEYT"
"Red eye," an optical phenomenon in which a subject's
.v.t upp.u, t.d in photoqraphg taken with a flash
untt, is a result of the flash iight's directly illuminat-
i"q itr" retina. This happens when. the subject looks is str:aiqht into the camera on which a flash unit
rno""t.a. The effect becomes more pronounced i{
there is little or no ambient liqht' In this case, the pupil
of the eye is wide open, and the illuminated retina is
clearly visible.
i" u""ia "red eye" you can take any or all of the follow-
t"3:tT;;hten
the room to minimize the openins of
the subject's PuPils.
2. Instruci the subiect not to look straight into the
camera'
3. Keep the flash unit as far away as possible from
the camera bY means of a sYnc cord
Note that once "red eye" appears, there is no way ot
retouching the negatives.
24View original page 25Page 26 · Read text
II OPTIMUM BATTERY PERFORMANCEwww.butkus.us
l. New batteries: Between manufacturing and first 5. Battery brands: Do not use mixed brands of
use, all batteries exhibit some drain. Therefore, batteries, nor batteries with different model
care should be taken to purchase the newest numbers. Also, avoid mixing new and old bat-
(and freshest) ones possible. To help you do this, teries since proper performance will not be ob-
some manufacturers stamp the date of manu- tained and battery leakage may occur.
facture on the bottom of each battery. Ask your 6. Disposal: Do not dispose of batteries by burning.
camera dealer for assistance in interpreting the AIso, for safety's sake, do not disassemble bat-
codes. teries when disposing.
2. Temperature: Battery life ratings are based on 7. Polarity: When installing batteries, observe the
operation at around 20"C (68"F). At other tem- voltage polarities carefully. Reversal of the posi-
peratures, battery life is shortened. At OoC, for tive ( + ) and negative (-) terminals will result
instance, battery life is shortened by as much as in leakage.
2/3. Spare batteries should therefore be kept
available if operation in low temperatures is
anticipated.
3. Continuous use: Batteries are drained much
more quickly by continuous use than by inter-
mittent use.
4. Storage: When not in use, the batteries should
be removed to prevent damage from leakage. To
minimize drain during the period of disuse,
store the batteries in a cool, dry place.
I
25View original page 26From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.